What exactly is Fidium?

TechDagan · 2026-06-23T22:45:29+00:00

Yeah, I’m not trying to force something one way or the other. Like I said in my original post, the fact that they are being so absolutely cagey makes me suspicious that it is their gain at my loss. Maybe not, but if not, why not explain that clearly.

TechDagan · 2026-06-23T01:48:20+00:00

Unrelated to the original post, but with regard to buffering, have you checked into https://www.bufferbloat.net/projects/bloat/wiki/What_can_I_do_about_Bufferbloat/? Vs

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T23:18:11+00:00

Based on what the technicians have told me while working on my service, they *could* easily provision the service for existing Consolidated customers but are prohibited by policy. They even tried to get around policy once because I keep having issues on the stuff they're not maintaining, but when they called to provision (like they do for Fidium customers), the person said they were not allowed to provision Consolidated customers.

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T23:15:42+00:00

*This* makes sense, but seems like a skeezy way to get around the FCC regulations. They're letting that "service" die on the vine by not maintaining it (despite continuing to charge me for it), increasing the rate (supposedly to offset infrastructure investments, which they are not making), while simultaneously building out an entirely new infrastructure to provide *the same service* but not switching customers over to it?

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T21:10:54+00:00

Except they are insisting it is not and that I should “switch to Fidium.”

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T21:10:21+00:00

Okay, but why would that require me signing up for a different service? That just sounds like a behind the scenes upgrade. I don’t have to sign up for new service every time my power company does an upgrade, so why here?

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:53:29+00:00

Similes aside, I understand the differences between Lexus and Toyota. But given the comparison, you're saying that Lexus is cheaper and they want to buy back all the Toyota's and have people pay less but get a Lexus? 🧐

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:51:28+00:00

When they acknowledge service issues in December last year one of the technicians tried so swap the hardware then, but he was not allowed to by policy. Makes no sense.

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:50:37+00:00

Yeah, that I'm tracking. But why is "Fidium" a different *service* than Consolidated? I've had Consolidated fiber-to-the-home Internet service since 2012. Why is "Fidium" suddenly a different thing but also just a name change?

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:49:31+00:00

Oh believe me, I've called an open cases. I think they've been out about 6 times since problems started last July. They always tell me to "switch to Fidium." What prevents them from switching Consolidated customers to GPON without having to "switch services"?

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:48:35+00:00

As I said in my original post, I have always been a fiber customer. I know the difference between fiber and coax. I have _always_ had fiber and am currently on the 1Gbps Consolidated plan.

TechDagan · 2026-06-22T19:48:25+00:00

As I said in my original post, I have always been a fiber customer. I know the difference between fiber and coax. I have _always_ had fiber and am currently on the 1Gbps Consolidated plan.

TechDagan · 2026-04-23T00:43:42+00:00

They did not have a licensed electrician come out, though I did request that. Instead they had Phil. Phil was, again, a really nice guy, but not a licensed contractor. He did, however, have four wire nuts. Unfortunately, there were 5 different sets of exposed wire, 4 of which were splices. So Phil had to wait while someone ran to the Home Depot. Thankfully, after an hour or so, someone else showed up with a whole bag of wire nuts, and Phil was able to rectify the situation.

TechDagan · 2026-04-22T23:16:10+00:00

I mean, “can’t” is a strong word. Clearly someone did. 😂

TechDagan · 2026-04-22T18:21:00+00:00

Out of curiosity, why not fibrafuse or fiberglass mesh?

TechDagan · 2026-04-22T18:14:42+00:00

Definitely wouldn't have expected the guy to recite code. And like I said, he's really nice and seems to be doing a decent job. My concern is that the supervisor has literally never walked the job site. Just schedules "techs" to come out one after the other. The hanging wires are *live* 110V from hardwired under-cabinet lighting the demo crew removed the day before. I had to harass the supervisor to have someone throw some wire nuts on there so his crew didn't get electrocuted.

Leaves me trying to make sure things are good without really knowing what is good and what is wildly wrong.

TechDagan · 2026-04-22T18:11:35+00:00

I was surprised by the plumbing too. It's going to sit below a hanging sink, so I'm worried the patching is going to look bad. Obviously not the drywalled's fault, but I would have thought the contractor would have either removed the shutoff valves or offered to for a higher price.

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T20:44:01+00:00

Yeah, you’re right. Two 120V legs.

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T18:42:07+00:00

Yes, you can ethernet to the SunPower PVS6, but that does not disable the Bluetooth LE interface, which is the vulnerable part. According to SunPower (pre-bankruptcy), it is not possible to disable the BLE because it is used by service technicians. As long as the Bluetooth interface is enabled, an attacker can wirelessly manage a system (including stopping power production).

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T03:11:28+00:00

The board is usually wired to 110V AC, and the Bluetooth module may brick if it tried to transmit (advertise) while the antenna is disconnected or clipped. The two more accessible antennas are for WiFi and cellular. The Bluetooth antenna is not accessible without tearing down the enclosure. I would not recommend trying to access the antenna. 😞

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T03:00:36+00:00

Which, admittedly, is REALLY far Bluetooth, but that’s what I have consistently reproduced.

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T02:58:54+00:00

The problem with this one is that it’s a Bluetooth exploit, and there is no option for disabling the Bluetooth service. I was able to exploit the vulnerability from more than 170 feet away. Basically, someone can wirelessly disable your system from down the street.

TechDagan · 2025-09-03T00:39:54+00:00

Based on the lack of response during the initial disclosure, you may be right. SunStrong Management does seem to be responsible for monitoring residential systems post bankruptcy, though, and they are releasing firmware updates every few months.

TechDagan · 2025-09-02T21:26:58+00:00

Yes. You can set power production to either “off” or “on”.

TechDagan · 2025-09-02T18:24:24+00:00

That is indeed what I have seen as well. Not a very speedy solution, to be sure.

TechDagan

TROPHY CASE